Wire-fence clutch.



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Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

PATENT OFFTQE.

EDGAR SHULTZ, OF NEWTOWN, INDIANA.

WIRE -FE NOE CLUTCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR SHULTZ, a citii zen of the United States,residing in Newtown, county of Fountain, and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Vire- Fence Clutch, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improved means for securing a wire to afence post of any construction, and has for one of its objects toprovide a device of this character, which is simple and cheap inconstruction and positive in operation.

It is a well known fact that wire fence builders'have always beenhampered in running a fence because of the lack of an efiicientfastening means, 2'. e., one which will permitof readily applying andpositively securing the end of a hard wire, and also allow of a quickrelease, should it be necessary to either take down the fence or tore-stretch the same.

The present invention, which is made of metal, is preferably bolt-shapedin form, having a threaded shank and a squared end. Intermediate ofthese two is arranged a dog, which by its peculiar construction, notonly crimps the wire but positively locks the same against longitudinalmovement.

\Vhile this device is primarily adapted to be used on the end posts offences for securing the ends of the wires, I do not wish to limit myselfto this particular use, as the device may'be employed at other points ofa fence, or may be used in various places for securing a wire, as forinstance, on a telegraph or telephone pole.

In the drawings :F igure 1 is a perspective view of a fence post,showing the application of my improved wire fastener. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of my invention, showing particularly thelocking dog in its relation to the boltand wire. Fig. 3 is asideelevation of my device, showing an end view of the offset extension ofthe dog for crimping the wire, and Fig. t is a perspective view of thewire crimping and locking dog.

The form of the invention herein shown consists of a bolt-shaped memberhaving an externally threaded shank 2, a squared end 3, and anintermediate slotted portion 4 in which is mounted a locking dog 5.\Vhen wooden osts are employed, the threaded shank 2 is screwed into thepost, and this Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 18, 1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 439,102.

g operation is preferably performed by means of a monkey-wrench or othertool applied to the squared or polygonal-shaped end 3. When, however,plastic posts are employed, the post and the wire fasteners arepreferably molded together, the threads of the shank then serving toreceive the plastic composition and thereby tend to prevent any movementof the device.

Formed transversely in the intermediate portion a of the device, is aslot 6 having one corner 6 of the end nearest the squared end 3 rounded.Movably mounted within the slot (3 is the wire crimping and locking dog5, which is preferably formed from a very hard grade of iron. The bodyportion 7 of the dog is substantially rectangular in shape and isprovided with an integral ollset extension 8, which is arranged toextend forwardly toward the squared end 3. he front edge 9 ofthe dogdescribes a compound curve and is grooved to receive the wire. Thisedge, beginning with the front of the offset extension 8, graduallyextends rearwardly to the center of the substantially rectangular-shapedbody portion 7, and then gradually extends forwardly to the oppositeside 10 of the dog. It will therefore be seen that a scallop formed inthe grooved edge of the dog, the deepest part of the scallop beinglocated in the center of the bolt-shaped member. \Vhere the grooved edge9 meets the edge 10 of the dog, a corner 11 is formed, which is verysharp and adapted to engage or bite the wire. The dog is sufficiently asto permit of the entrance of the wire. The grooved edge of the offsetextension is arranged slightly in advance of the front edge of the slot,thus causing the wire to be crimped. The rear edge 12 of the dog isslightly inclined toward the front so as to permit of the dog beingmoved. The dog is pivotally mounted in the slot by means of the rivet18, which is arranged eccentrically. Thus it will be observed that afterthe wire has been inserted in position and the wire stretched, theoffset extension will act as a lever, crimp the wire at that place, andforce the edge or corner 11 against or slightly into the wire, andthereby securely lock the wire from longitudinal movement.

Instead of the shank being slotted as shown, it could be cut out at oneside to receive the dog. In lieu of the threaded shank, other spacedfrom the front edge 6 of the slot so means may be employed, such asgrooves or projections or both, to hold the shank securely in theconcrete when a plastic post is used.

The simplicity, cheapness and durability of this contrivance willcommend itself to farmers and others who have use for a fence securingdevice.

I Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a post, of a bolt- Y shaped member having itsshank secured within the post, and a dog movably mounted in a slot ofsaid member and having its engaging edge constructed to crimp and lock awire in conjunction with the contiguous wall of the slot.

2. A wire securing member having an externally threaded shank forsecuring the member to a post, the other end being of a polygonal shape,and a dog movably mounted in a slot of the member and constructed tocrimp a wire and cause the wire to be locked by the dog.

3. A bolt-shaped wire securing member having an externally threadedshank for securing the member to the post, a slot in the member, and adog eccentrically mounted in said slot and provided with an offsetextension, said dog having a grooved and scalloped edge, w iich forms awire crimping and locking means.

4L. A wire securing member provided with a cut-out portion, a dogeccentrically mounted in said portion and provided at one side with awire-engaging edge cooperating with the contiguous wall of the saidcut-out portion, and an integral offset extension projecting beyond theplane of the said contiguous wall for crimping the wire and also actingas a lever for forcing the said edge to bite the wire and therebyprevent longitudinal movement.

5. A wire securing member made boltshaped in form and having a cut-outportion, and an eccentrically pivoted dog mounted in the cut-out portionand having its front side curved and grooved and cooperating with thecontiguous wall of the cut-out portion to hold the wire, said dog havingan ofi'set extension projecting beyond one side of the member andforwardly of the said contiguous wall of the cutout portion, whereby thewire is crimped.

6. A wire securing member provided with a cut-out portion, and a dogeccentrically mounted in said portion and provided at one side edge witha wire engaging edge, said edge comprising a compound curve which formsa wire crimping and locking means in cooperation with one wall of thesaid outout portion.

ED GAR SHULTZ. lVitnesses 5 ROBERT N. VOLIVA, T. J. BROWN.

